Betonica plant named ‘Summer Grapes’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Betonica plant named ‘Summer Grapes’, characterized by its relatively compact and broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively long inflorescences with bright purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Betonica officinalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUMMER GRAPES’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Betonicaplant, botanically known as Betonica officinalis, previously classifiedas Stachys officinalis and Stachys betonica, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Summer Grapes’.

The new Betonica plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new compact andfreely-flowering Betonica plants with unique and attractive flowercolors.

The new Betonica plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2016in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands, of Betonica officinalis ‘Hummelo’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofBetonica officinalis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Betonicaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plantfrom within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands in June, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Betonica plant by divisions in acontrolled environment in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands since August,2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Betonica plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Betonica have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Summer Grapes’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Summer Grapes’ as a new and distinctBetonica plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Relatively long inflorescences with bright purple-colored        flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Betonica differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Hummelo’, in plant habit as plants of the new Betonica are morecompact than and shorter than plants of ‘Hummelo’. In addition, plantsof the new Betonica are more freely flowering than plants of ‘Hummelo’.

Plants of the new Betonica can be compared to plants of Betonicaofficinalis ‘Ukkie’, not patented. Plants of the new Betonica and‘Ukkie’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Betonica have stronger stems than plants of        ‘Ukkie’.    -   2. Plants of the new Betonica have larger leaves than plants of        ‘Ukkie’.    -   3. Plants of the new Betonica have longer inflorescences than        plants of ‘Ukkie’.    -   4. Plants of the new Betonica have bright purple-colored flowers        whereas plants of ‘Ukkie’ have lilac purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Betonica can also be compared to plants of Betonicaofficinalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,436. Plants of the new Betonica and ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ differprimarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Betonica are more compact and shorter than        plants of ‘Pink Cotton Candy’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Betonica have darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Pink Cotton Candy’.    -   3. Plants of the new Betonica have bright purple-colored flowers        whereas plants of ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ have bi-colored light and        bright pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Betonica plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Betonica plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof typical flowering plant of ‘Summer Grapes’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Summer Grapes’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Lisserbroek, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Betonica production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C.and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Betonica officinalis ‘Summer Grapes’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Betonica officinalis ‘Hummelo’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Betonica            officinalis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one month at ambient            temperatures about 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at ambient temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, slightly            fibrous; typically greyed white in color, actual color of            the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown            as a garden plant; relatively compact and broadly upright            plant habit; broadly oblong to broadly obovate in overall            plant shape; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate; freely basal branching habit with            about 36 primary basal branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 31            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 66            cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 53 cm.        -   Basal branches.—Length: About 32.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 17.5 cm. Shape: Quadrangular.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; longitudinally            ridged; slightly to moderately glossy. Color, developing:            Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 143A to slightly            darker than 143A; proximally, close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length, basal leaves.—About 10.8 cm.        -   Length, cauline leaves.—About 7 cm.        -   Width, basal leaves.—About 4.6 cm.        -   Width, cauline leaves.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape, basal and cauline leaves.—Ovate to narrowly ovate.        -   Apex, basal and cauline leaves.—Obtuse to broadly acute.        -   Base, basal leaves.—Hastate, lobes free to touching.        -   Base, cauline leaves.—Truncate.        -   Margin, basal and cauline leaves.—Crenate.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves, upper            surface.—Densely pubescent, moderately rugose; slightly            glossy.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves, lower            surface.—Densely pubescent, moderately rugose; matte to            slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern, basal and cauline leaves.—Pinnate.        -   Color, basal and cauline leaves.—Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to NN137A; venation, close to 152B. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B.        -   Petioles.—Length, basal leaves: About 23.1 cm. Length,            cauline leaves: About 2.6 cm. Diameter, basal and cauline            leaves, flattened: About 2.5 mm. Texture and luster, basal            and cauline leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            pubescent; moderately glossy. Strength, basal and cauline            leaves: Strong. Color, basal and cauline leaves, upper            surface: Close to 144B. Color, basal and cauline leaves,            lower surface: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Single tubular labiate            flowers arranged on relatively long terminal racemes;            flowers sessile; freely flowering habit with about 200            flowers developing per inflorescence and about 7,200 flowers            developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers            with an upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip; flowers face            mostly outwardly on the raceme.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower for about ten weeks            during the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about            one week on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster, sepals: Densely            pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, petals: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, sepals: Close to 145C; distally,            close to 137A and tinged with close to N77B. Color, petals:            Close to 77D; distally, close to 77B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 20.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm by 9 mm.        -   Flower length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: One upper lip and one            three-lobed lower lip; lower 60% of the petals are fused            into a narrow tube. Length, upper and lower lips, free part:            About 4 mm. Width, upper lip: About 3 mm. Width, lower lip:            About 6 mm. Shape, upper lip: Broadly ovate. Shape, lower            lip: Broadly obovate. Apex, upper lip: Obtuse. Apex, lower            lip: Praemorse. Margin, upper lip: Entire, not undulate.            Margin, lower lip: Entire, moderately undulate; lateral            lobes recurved. Texture and luster, upper and lower lips,            inner surface: Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, upper lip, outer surface: Densely            pubescent, slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster,            lower lip, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous and towards the            base, densely pubescent, slightly velvety; matte. Texture,            throat: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, tube: Densely pubescent.            Color, upper lip: When opening and fully opened, inner            surface: Close to N78A to N78B; venation, close to N80A.            When opening and fully opened, outer surface: Close to N80B;            venation, close to N81A. Color, lower lip: When opening and            fully opened, inner surface: Close to N78B; venation, close            to N80A. When opening and fully opened, outer surface: Close            to 77D; towards the apex, close to N80B; venation, close to            N81A. Color, throat: Close to N78B; venation, close to N80A.            Color, tube: Close to N80B; venation, close to N80B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, lower 70% fused into            a tubular calyx. Calyx length: About 5 mm. Calyx diameter:            About 3 mm. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblong. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 145C; distally, close to 137A tinged with close to N77B.            Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B;            distally, close to 138A tinged with close to N77B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 33.8 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to            143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Filament color: Close            to N82C. Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic; dorsifixed. Anther            size: About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 166C.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to N155A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1 cm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.            Stigma color: Close to N81B. Style length: About 1 cm. Style            color: Close to N81B; proximally, close to N81D to lighter            than N81D. Ovary color: Close to 152C to 152D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Betonica.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Betonica have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Betonica plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Betonica have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about −29° C.    to 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Betonica plant named ‘Summer Grapes’ as illustrated and described. 